Posts Tagged ‘medicinal herbs’
Herb Garden Plants – Ground Ivy – Invader Gets the Lead Out
November 23, 2009 | 
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Glechoma hederacea (Labiatae)
Appearance
Ground Ivy has small lilac/pink flowers with very tiny reddish spots; they seldom exceed 120mm in height and display themselves over rather lush variegated supporting leaves which run across the ground, taking root in a wider and wider area when uncontrolled. The leaves of these herb garden plants are similar in shape and appearance to a conventional ivy – hence the name ground ivy. Not only will the ground ivy reward you with its own prettiness, but will also invite butterflies to flit about the garden.
History
A native of Northern climes, it was certainly used in Saxon times as records exist indicating its usage in clearing ales during the brewing process. Ground Ivy has, over the centuries marched across Europe and Britain yard by yard and is currently invading the United States from the East. Its virtues make it a popular addition to gardens where it is often used as an inhibitor of weeds as its dominance brooks no rivals.
Usage
The plants were fairly widely cultivated as herb garden plants for their apparent detoxification virtues. All portions of the ground ivy possess a bitter taste but lovely aroma; powdered ground ivy was included in snuff mixtures to relieve headaches and clear sinuses. Before the advent of lead free paint, American house painters cultivated ground ivy as essential herb garden plants – they used them in a tea – called gill tea after the French ‘guiller’(roughly to ferment beer). This tea was thought to be an antidote to inflamed eyes and the common malady of ‘lead colic’ experienced by painters of the time. Gill tea was a specific remedy for hacking coughs and popularly used as a blood tonic.
Cultivation
Although seeds are available, ground ivy propagates very easily from a piece of its squarish root simply pulled off the host plant; no special measues at all are required when taking cuttings from these plants. Although not fussy herb garden plants, ground ivy will thrive in heavy dampish soil with a modicum of sun.
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Posted in herb garden plants, medicinal | 
Tags: butterflies, lead colic, medicinal herbs, medieval herb | 
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Herb Garden Plants – Evening Primrose As Cinderella
Oenothera biennis (Onagraceae)
Description
Like Cinderella, this slightly tatty daytime herb garden plant transforms into an evening beauty with drooping pale yellow flowers and a heady fragrance, thus the name evening primrose. Flowers start in early summer and give a good showing until nearly mid-autumn (Fall) Over the summer/autumn transition period, flowers will display throughout the day. Thickets of evening primrose, with their red stem bases will reach up to 1.37m (4’6″) in height.
Some types will both produce fragrance and display during the day, so check with your local nurseryman.
Although its reputation as a healing herb is justifiably gaining ground, this herb garden plant is also prized for its long flowering season and intrinsic beauty.
History
Common names include moon flower, primrose tree, moths and night willow. An indigenous plant of America, known to grow from Labrador in the North to the Southern states and as far West as Colorado.
Evening primrose is reputed to have arrived in Europe around 1625 via its seed being mixed in with the ballast soil used in the sailing ships of the 17th century.
Usage
Originally, extracts from the bark, stem and leaves from this herb garden plant were used as an astringent, for nervous disorders, as sedatives and as an aid to digestive aid. Now the essential oil is extracted and has a gained a reputation as being a natural remedy for aiding nervous disorders, including multiple sclerosis.
The fatty acids in the oil are reputed to stop the inflammatory process and aid skin cell repair in persons affected by poison ivy or poison oak.
Cultivation
Sow seed either in late Spring directly into your prepared bed for flowering the following year or sow as soon as the soil has warmed in early Spring. In the latter case, transplant the seedlings for a good chance of flowers by late season the same year. The fleshy roots like to grow deep, so provide a good depth of soil.
Once established, self seeding will ensure lots of fresh evening primrose seedlings around the garden ready for transplanting in early summer.
Evening primrose is a wonderful plant and an asset to all but the tiniest gardens.
Posted in herb garden plants | Tags: medicinal herbs, moon flower, multiple sclerosis | No Comments »
